As with anything in the fitness, health and wellness world these days, nutrition has more misinformation out there than one can wrap their head around
It seems every other week there’s an article about how something is bad for you, then it’s good for you, then its essential, then it was never needed
It’s a double edged sword really… we’re in a technological age where we have access to any information that’s borderline ever existed right in our pockets
That’s an amazing thing, right?
It can also be absolute trash
Absolute trash because yes we have information, but which is good and which is bad?
We have to sift through thousands of thoughts and ideas and decide for ourselves which is bullshit and which is gospel
Well I’m here to break down one aspect of the nutrition world that’s been shifting from good to bad to ugly and everything in between for a long time
Carbs
What’s your stance on them?
Do you embrace them?
Do you run from them like the plague?
Are you indifferent?
Well the facts are that carbs are a macronutrient. Meaning they are an essential nutrient needed for us to survive
Protein, fats and carbs (the 3 macronutrients) are needed for bodily functions
Proteins are building blocks for muscle growth
Fats are essential for brain health and joint integrity
Carbs are the most readily available form of energy our body recognizes
So why do they get such a bad rap?
I believe it started with the Atkins diet when they told the world carbs were the enemy and to avoid them like you avoided showing your parents your report card after flunking French class
Low carb diets are all well and good for some people, but that doesn’t mean carbs are bad
There’s a million ways to skin a cat… and low carb diets are just one of the many ways to lose fat and get into shape
Keto diets also demonize carbs. They even take it a step further and tell us to have pretty close to zero carbs and you’ll be good to go
As opposed to Atkins where you gradually increase your carb intake through the process, Keto has you abolish them altogether for the duration of your entire life and also forbids you even think about them going forward. Don’t even utter the word!
The goal there is to go into Ketosis where you are using fat for energy rather than carbs
The body is an amazing specimen in that even if you take away it’s most coveted energy source, it won’t let you roll over and die. It’ll figure a way out to get the job done
Research is showing, however, that although Keto is pretty good for fat loss, it’s not great for those who want to build muscle
There’s nothing “wrong” with either of these diets. Different strokes for different folks
I digress
Carbs are good for you. Remember vegetables? Yeah, those are carbs. I’m pretty sure those are good for the body
I think what many people tend to misunderstand is that there are different types of carbs
There are the “bad” kind of carbs such as candy, baked goods, and juice. These are known as simple carbohydrates and are easily available energy to burn
There are also “good” kind of carbs such as potatoes, broccoli, and oatmeal. These are known as complex carbohydrates and take longer to convert into useable energy
There is also fibrous carbs such as beans and legumes. They actually aren’t available at all for energy, but are great for aiding in healthy digestion
You see, carbs aren’t bad
Some types of carbs are really easy to eat because they taste amazing, make you feel good (in the short term) and don’t fill you up very easily
This is a recipe for disaster if your goal is weight loss or to improve aesthetics because before you know it you’re 1000 calories deep and don’t even know what happened
So in turn, I can see why some people are scared shitless of carbs. Carbs have done them wrong and they are now scorn for life
I get it
But if we change our mindset on carbs and realize they are not all created equally, we’ll be healthier and happier because of it
High carb, low carb, whatever route you take, just make sure protein is high and your calories match your goal and you’ll be golden
I currently have clients all over the carb spectrum based on their goals, preference, ability to sustain, and many other factors. Everyone is different. Do some trial and error and you’ll be doing yourself a massive favor in the long run
Now go eat that bagel, or don’t.